Ellie Chessell pictured with her ex boyfriend Claudio Gouveir who has been named as a suspect

“He was sent to a jail in Madeira and will remain there until trial unless he is summonsed to the Portuguese mainland for further questioning beforehand because the case is being dealt with on the Algarve.

“The arrest took place on May 29.”

Gouveia spoke of his shock after learning Ellie had been attacked. Police linked the incident early on to a revenge attack by an ex-boyfriend.

He branded the attacker an animal and urged police to put him behind bars.

He also described the pretty blonde as “someone special” in his life and said she had suffered a “disgusting” act of evil.

Pointing the finger at someone she might have met since they last spoke, Claudio insisted in broken English after being informed of the attack: “I had no information about it and I’m surprised about the accusations of an ex-boyfriend.

“I’m surprised not to be contacted by the police but I’m definitely going to the station to clear up this misunderstanding and find out why and how I’m being involved if they mean me as the ex-boyfriend.

“I haven’t been with Ellie for about three months so I guess they could mean another boyfriend. I’m not sure she had anyone since me.

“I have no idea about her life since she left Madeira. We have never talked since. I couldn’t tell if she had anyone else but it is likely.”

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The Policia Judiciaria confirmed in a statement released yesterday: “The PJ, through the Department of Criminal Investigation in Portimao, has identified and arrested a 34-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of attempted homicide on the island of Madeira.

“The arrested man had a relationship with his victim and after they broke-up, tried to seek revenge.

“Executing a previously prepared plan, he obtained the help of a third person, who on the night of May 6 in the area of Alvor near Portimao, attacked the woman with acid, causing her burns and serious injuries on several parts of the body.”